Hydroelectric control valve for remote locations

ABSTRACT

Herein described is a hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline including an inlet and outlet (or input and output) section attached to the same pipeline wherein fluid flows into and out of the HCV comprising a bell reservoir section and a seat reservoir section which are both capped, where the bell reservoir section and the seat reservoir section are aligned with each other and are also perpendicular to fluid flowing through the pipeline. A channel which can be electrically activated and thus controlled is attached to a bell section, such that a bell reservoir section includes a bell relief channel in fluid communication with an outlet section and also a separate hydraulic poppet channel in communication with a locating needle head. In addition, turbine and deactivation channels are employed such that the deactivation channel connects the input section and the seat reservoir.

PRIORITY

The following National Phase application claims benefit under 35 USC§365(c) of PCT application number PCT/US2011/000614 filed Apr. 6, 2011entitled “Hydroelectric Control Valve for Remote Locations” and under 35USC §120 of United States nonprovisional application Ser. No. 13/080,724filed Apr. 6, 2011 of the same title.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

Disclosed is a hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for fluid and gassystems that are flow and pressure responsive and is suitable foridentifying and controlling, throttling or stopping the flow of gas orfluid. The present disclosure best serves the needs associated withremote and/or unmanned locations.

BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE

Pipeline transport is defined as the transportation of goods through apipe. Most commonly, liquid and gases are sent through the pipeline(s),but pneumatic tubes that transport solid capsules using compressed airhave also been used. As for gases and liquids, any chemically stablesubstance can be sent through a pipeline. Therefore sewage, slurry,water, or even alcoholic beverage pipelines exist; but arguably the mostimportant in terms of value and commerce are those transporting fluidand natural gas.

Pipelines are generally the most economical way to transport largequantities of fluid or natural gas over land or via water and/or subsea.Compared to railroad, pipelines provide lower cost per unit and alsohigher capacity transport. Although pipelines can be built under thesea, that process is both economically and technically very demanding,so the majority of fluid transported at sea is by tanker ships.

Fluid pipelines are made from steel or plastic tubes with innerdiameters ranging from roughly 30 to 120 cm (about 12 to 47 inches).Where possible, these pipelines are built and provided above watersurfaces. However, in more developed, urban, environmentally sensitiveor potentially dangerous areas, pipelines are buried underground at atypical depth of about 1.3-1.6 meters (about 3 feet). The fluid is keptin motion by a system of pump stations built along the pipeline andusually flows at speed of about 1 to 6 m/s″ (excerpted from Wikipedia®“Pipeline Transport”).

Today, more than 200,000 miles of fluid pipeline criss-cross thecontinental United States as reported in the article;http://www.api.org/ehs/performance/transportation/moretransportation.cfmentitled, More on Fluid and Natural Gas Transport, Energy API, Aug. 31,2006). Significantly more miles of pipeline exist worldwide.

In order to continue production, wellbores, pipelines, and controlstructures need to remain intact against threats or acts of sabotage,severe weather or fires. Acts of sabotage are so frequent that at leastone publication in the fluid industry is dedicated to identifying eachattack—see www.iags.org/iraqpipelinewatch.htm]. From June 2003 throughMay 28, 2007, the LAGS Energy Security newsletter (Jun. 1, 2007) listed435 incidents of sabotage, ranging from rocket propelled grenades firedon fluid installations to finding pipeline security officers killedwhile on duty with no resultant damage to the pipelines. Even disused(non-producing wells) are the subject of attack and arson. These acts ofsabotage are not just in Iraq, but throughout the world, and the listcontinues to grow.

Blastgard International reported in their Dec. 6, 2004 news release that“BlastGard's CEO Jim Gordon added “Between August and October, Iraq lost$7 billion dollars in potential revenue due to sabotage against thecountry's fluid infrastructure, according to Assem Jihad, spokesman ofthe Fluid Ministry. An estimated 20 fluid wells and pipelines werebombed or set ablaze this month in northern Iraq alone and Kirkukpipelines and wells have been attacked at least 74 times since thecollapse of Saddam's regime.”—see—www.blastgardintl.com/press/pr120604.asp “The pipeline industry and the petroleum industry have beenconducting informational briefings on how pipeline systems function toensure that government agencies and intelligence personnel understandthe services provided, the potential risks and vulnerabilities, and whatpipeline operators are doing to improve security”—seehttp://www.api.org/aboutfluidgas/sectors/pipeline/securitypreparedness.cfm,Pipeline Security Preparedness, Energy API, Sep. 30, 2006.

The clear message of the previous paragraphs shows the cost of damage tofluid pipelines in terms of manpower, production lost, and resultingcost to repair each area of damage.

Additionally the weather has a significant impact on damage to fluidinfrastructures and fluid production. In a report published in PureEnergy Systems News, dated Sep. 11, 2005 titled, Update on HurricaneKatrina's Damage to the Gulf Fluid Patch, by Paul Noel, the authorstates, “The reports officially are that something like 150 rigs areseverely damaged though at least 500 have yet to be evaluated as of thistime. 36 rigs are sunk and several are floating free, having brokenmoorings, etcetera”. Adding, “The rigs are probably the best of thenews. Financial sources say that the 33,000 miles of undersea pipelinesmay be in real trouble”.

As recently as Jun. 29, 2007 the following report was carried onMSNBC.com., titled Worst 3 months for U.S. in Iraq since war began,Associated Press “In other developments, Iraqi police said a bombexploded under an fluid pipeline south of Baghdad on Friday, spillingcrude fluid and sparking a huge fire. The explosives were planted undera stretch of pipeline in the Mowehlah area of Haswa, a town 30 milessouth of the Iraqi capital, a police officer said on condition ofanonymity because he was not authorized to release the information. Thepipeline transmits crude fluid from Iraq's southern fluid fields to theDora refinery in Baghdad. The blast ignited a huge fire around 5 a.m.,the officer said. By midday, firefighters were still struggling toextinguish the flames, which were fueled by a continuing leak of fluidfrom the pipeline, he said. Workers also were looking for a way totemporarily cut off the fluid flow, until a repair could be made, theofficer added.”

Therefore, there is a need for a hydroelectric control valve (HCV) forpipelines to selectively regulate, control and shut off the fluid flowin the pipelines if damaged or destroyed thereby saving desired fluidsfor production, minimizing fluid losses, eliminating hydrocarbons as afuel source where there is fire and potentially saving many lives andreducing costs. Similarly, an HCV can be installed just below thesurface of a wellbore with a radio receiver and encrypted coding inorder that the HCV can be shut off remotely (including from the surface)in the event of terrorist attacks or any surface damage to Christmastree valving. In petroleum and natural gas extraction, a Christmas tree,or “Tree”, (not “Wellhead” as it is sometimes incorrectly referred to)is an assembly of valves, spools, and fittings, used for an oil well,gas well, water injection well, water disposal well, gas injection well,condensate well and other types of wells. The name is derived from thecrude resemblance to a decorated tree.

RELEVANT ART

U.S. Pat. No. 4,379,543, to Reaves, V. Randon, and assigned to Valinco,Inc., describes a valve actuator comprising, a housing sealinglyenclosing a vane connected to a valve via a shaft rotated by the vane. Ameans for moving the vane in the housing to a valve open position, amovable piston and return spring enclosed by a piston housing fixedlysecured to the vane housing with the piston joined to an elongate rodwherein one end of the rod protrudes through an opening in the vanehousing to contact the vane. The elongate rod includes a cylindricalcross-bar perpendicularly extending from the one end of the rod and thecross-bar providing a bearing surface for a bearing means to enablerolling contact with the vane.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,611,630, to Muchow, et. al., and assigned to Hydril Co.,describes a apparatus for determining fluid flow rate comprising a chokevalve, including a cylinder with an axial exit opening and a pluralityof entrance side flow ports and a sleeve moving concentrically over thecylinder to determine the amount of entrance opening provided by theside flow ports. The sleeve includes a side keying means, aback-and-forth carrier operating with the sleeve side keying means forcausing the sleeve to progress from opening to closing and back toopening of the side flow ports with the travel of the carrier. Thecarrier includes an eccentric drive keying means including a recess foraccommodating the sleeve side keying means. The sleeve side keying meansis a projection for riding in the recess in the carrier. A rotatabledrive shaft at right angles to the cylinder and sleeve includes acompatible means for operating with the carrier drive keying means andpower means connected for rotating the rotatable valve drive shaft,including a dynamic fluid actuator connected to receive actuation pulsesfrom a single fluid input line, wherein a pulse input causes anincremental change in fluid flow through the choke valve.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,140, to Haussler, Hubert, and assigned toBeringer-Hydraulik GmbH, describes a hydroelectric control system fordelivering a pressurized hydroelectric fluid to a user comprising, apump means for supplying pressurized hydroelectric fluid to a fluidsupply line, a user line operatively connected to the user, anadjustable throttle valve means connected between the fluid supply lineand the user line for controlling the flow of the hydroelectric fluidfrom the pump means to the user. The pressure difference balance meansincludes a reference input line, a return flow line, and an outputcontrol line, for selectively connecting the reference input line or thereturn flow line to the output control line in response to the pressuredifference in the fluid supply line and the user line. Additionallythere is a control valve means disposed in the fluid supply line betweenthe pump means and the throttle valve means and operatively connected tothe output control line of the pressure difference balance means forselectively exhausting a portion of the fluid in the fluid supply linein response to the fluid pressure in the output control line.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,895, to Maltman, Michael, and assigned to ChevronResearch Co., describes a valve for reducing the pressure of fluidconsisting of a hollow, elongated cylindrical body having a horizontalaxis; a cylindrical sliding sleeve member adapted to fit inside the bodyin a close-fitting relationship therewith. A sliding plug sleeve havingan aperture along its longitudinal axis, the aperture has a restrictedportion which converges then diverges in a gentle, sweeping fashion. Theplug having a face that will substantially coincide with the restrictedportion when the restricted portion is pressed against the plug andfurther comprising a first flow passage oriented to have its axissubstantially parallel to the horizontal axis. The plug member isattached to the body at a first end with a sliding sleeve sealing meansmounted on a second end of the body member. The sliding sleeve sealingmeans has a second flow passage therein and the body, the plug, and thesliding sleeve forming a first pressure control chamber. The body, thesliding sleeve sealing means, and the sliding sleeve form a secondpressure control chamber and a means for selectively increasing anddecreasing pressure in the first and the second pressure control chambersuch that the restricted portion can be selectively moved along thehorizontal axis and against the plug member to seal the first flowpassage.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,122, to Walter, Bruno H., and assigned to IntechFluid Tools, Ltd., describes a flow pulsing apparatus adapted to beconnected in a drill string above a drill bit and including a housingproviding a passage for a flow of drilling fluid toward the bit, turbinemeans in the housing rotated about an axis by the flow of drillingfluid, and valve means operated by the turbine means for periodicallyrestricting the flow through the passage in a cyclical manner to createpulsations in the flow and a cyclical water hammer effect to vibrate thehousing and the drill bit during use. The valve means including a valvemember which is reciprocated in response to rotation of the turbinemeans to effect the periodic and cyclical restriction of the flow.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,222, to Kato, et. al., and assigned to Tokico, Ltd.,describes a hydroelectric damper in which a fluid passage is definedthrough which fluid flows during extension and contraction strokes ofthe hydroelectric damper comprising, a valve mechanism disposed withinthe damper for generating a damping force during one of the strokes ofthe damper with the valve mechanism, including a main disc valve throughwhich fluid in the damper flows during one of the strokes of the damperand a valve retaining means mounted in the damper for supporting themain disc valve in a first position. The main disc valve is allowed tobe displaced in its entirety to a second position from the firstposition during the other of the strokes of the damper. The main discvalve is disposed across the fluid passage when it is in the firstposition and the fluid passage being in an open state, in which there isno resistance to the flow of fluid is offered by the main disc valve.When the main disc valve is in the second position, the main disc valvehas an orifice defined therein and a disc adjacent the orifice at thedownstream side thereof with respect to the direction in which the fluidflows there through during the one of the strokes of the damper. Thedisc is maintained in a closed position at which the disc closes theorifice and when no fluid is urged through the orifice, the disc of themain disc valve is deflectable from the closed position to an openposition at which the disc opens the orifice under the pressure of thefluid flowing through the fluid passage during one of the strokes of thedamper and while the speed at which one of the strokes occurs is below apredetermined value to generate the damping force.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,473, to Lochte, Glen E., and assigned to ChevronResearch Co., describes an apparatus for a subsea well completioncomprising, a wellhead connector having a tubing flow passageway influid communication with a well tubing and an annulus passageway influid communication with a well annulus. The tubing connection conduithas a first end operatively connected to the wellhead connector and influid communication with the tubing flow passageway and furthercomprising a tubing shut-off valve. An annulus connecting conduit has afirst end operatively connected to the wellhead connector and in fluidcommunication with the annulus flow passageway and further comprising anannulus shut-off valve. An annulus wing conduit is connected to theannulus connecting conduit above the annulus shut-off valve and furthercomprising an annulus wing conduit shut-off valve, a treecap connectedto a second end of the tubing connecting conduit and the annulusconnection conduit with the treecap further comprising; a productionstream conduit connected at a first end to the treecap and the tubingconnection conduit; a pressure control valve connected to a second endof the production steam conduit; a production return conduit connectedat a first end to the pressure control valve and at a second end to thetreecap and a tubing wing conduit connected to the treecap and theproduction return conduit and further comprising a tubing wing conduitshut-off valve.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,070,900, to Johnson, Clarence W., and assigned toBralorne Resources Ltd., describes a pressure monitoring system for apipeline comprising a signal circuit having hydroelectric fluid at afirst pressure, an actuator circuit having hydroelectric fluid at asecond pressure, a pressure reducing valve between the actuator and thesignal circuit, a pilot valve in operative relationship with thepipeline with the pilot valve being movable between a first positionwhen the pressure in the pipeline is within predetermined operatinglimits and a second position when the pressure in the pipeline isoutside of the operating limits and an accumulator to maintain thesignal circuit at a substantially constant pressure in association withthe pressure reducing valve, the hydroelectric fluid flowing between thesignal and actuator circuits, the accumulator being operable to receivefluid from and discharge fluid to the signal circuit, the first pressureof the signal circuit being lower than the second pressure of theactuator circuit.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,361, to Farley, et. al., and assigned to CompletionSystems, Inc., describes an improved traveling disc valve assembly forallowing increased production flow to the surface comprising, a lengthof tubing lowered down a cased wellbore, a crossover tool secured to thelower end of the length of tubing, a disc valve assembly secured to thecrossover tool and positioned to a lower circulation position in thewell bore. The assembly further comprises a disc valve secured in a boreof the assembly with a means interconnecting the crossover tool with thedisc valve assembly and a means in the upper portion of the disc valveassembly for severing the disc valve assembly from the crossover toolwhen the disc valve assembly is moved to an upper position blockingproduction flow up the production string and means lowered into the boreof the production casing to rupture the disc valve and to disengage thedisc valve assembly and push it to a position below the productionscreen to allow production to commence.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,213,133, to Ellett, James R., and assigned to BarberIndustries Ltd., describes a pilot valve responsive to pressure changescomprising a base housing, an inlet in the base housing exposed to apressure to be monitored, a diaphragm in the inlet within the basehousing and a lower body operably connected to the base housing. Thereis a spool movable within a cavity in the lower body; inlet, exhaust andsignal ports extending from the outside of the lower body to the cavity,annular grooves in the spool communicating with cross ports within thebody and crossholes within the spool. A first spring biased poppet sealring is mounted about the spool and being movable between a firstposition wherein the poppet seal ring contacts a first flange of thespool when the pressure is within normal operating pressure range and asecond position out of contact with first flange of the spool and incontact with a first flange of the body when the pressure is one ofeither higher or lower than the normal operating pressure range by apredetermined amount.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,291,918, to Johnson, Clarence W., and assigned to BarberIndustries Ltd., describes an actuator for opening and closing a valvecomprising a manually operated pump for pumping hydroelectric fluid froma reservoir holding, the hydroelectric fluid to move a piston and avalve operated from the piston in a first direction and at least onespring to move the piston and the valve in a second direction opposed tothe first direction and the spring being contained in the reservoir.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,837, to Johnson, Clarence W., and assigned to BarberIndustries Ltd., describes a two-line pilot valve to operatively sensethe pressure in a flowline comprising a body operable to be mounted to abase housing, a pushrod movable within the base housing and body, aninlet port and an outlet port, a first poppet sleeve mounted on thepushrod, a first poppet sleeve shoulder on the inside circumference ofthe first poppet sleeve operable to interact with a first pushrod flangeon the outside circumference of the pushrod, a spring operable on thefirst poppet sleeve to urge the first poppet sleeve shoulder into acontacting relationship with the first pushrod flange. There is a firstcore ring mounted about the pushrod, a first o-ring mounted on the firstcore ring and being operable to simultaneously contact one end of thefirst poppet sleeve and the inside circumference of the body, an inletport operable to admit fluid to a circumferential cavity surrounding thepoppet sleeve and defined on one end by the first o-ring of the corering and at the opposite end by a seal between the body and the firstpoppet sleeve. The outlet port communicates with the inlet port toexhaust fluid through the pilot valve when the first poppet sleeve isout of contact with the first o-ring of the first core ring.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,090, to Rosaen, Nils O., and unassigned, describes avalve between a position opening and a position closing fluid flow froman inlet through a chamber and to an outlet. The valve assemblyincluding an inner cylindrical member coaxially mounted to an outercylindrical member extending axially into an interior of the outercylindrical member. The valve assembly further includes a valve membermounted between the inner cylindrical member and the outer cylindricalmember. There is also a means for selectively moving the valve assemblybetween the opening and closing positions comprising utilizing pressurefluid at the inlet for moving the valve assembly to the openingposition, spring means for moving the valve to the closing position anda means for balancing the effects of inlet pressure on the valveassembly as the valve assembly is moving to the closing position. Thespring means includes a first spring biasing the inner cylindricalmember and the outer cylindrical member toward the closing position, astop means engaging the valve assembly to prevent further movement ofthe valve assembly by the first spring. The spring means furthercomprises a second relatively light spring biased between the outercylindrical member and the valve member and operable, upon the inner andouter cylindrical members being prevented by the stop means from furthermovement by the first spring to urge the valve member to the closingposition. A flexible seal means is carried by the valve member andengageable with the housing to prevent fluid flow from the inlet to theoutlet when the valve assembly is in the closing position.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,040, to Johnson, Clarence W., and assigned to BarberIndustries Ltd., describes a valve actuator apparatus comprising apiston movable within a housing and against the force of a spring withinthe housing, an indicator rod connected to the piston being adjustablymounted for relative axial movement relative to the piston and thespring. The spring and the piston remain stationary during the relativeaxial movement of the indicator rod relative to the piston.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,295, to Serrette, Billy J., and unassigned describesan earth boring apparatus using at least an upper section of drill pipeforming a drill string for boring geophysical holes to a desired depthcomprising; an upright guide rail extending from a support base meansfor maintaining the apparatus at a selected location for boring the holeand securing the guide rail in a position above the location of the holeand substantially parallel to the drill string. A carriage means ismovably coupled to the guide rail with a yoke assembly attached to thecarriage for securing an upper end of the upper section of the drillstring. The yoke assembly includes a plurality of vibrating means forgenerating in the yoke assembly cyclically recurring forces at selectedfrequencies substantially in the longitudinal direction of the drillstring with the yoke assembly transmitting the recurring vibratoryforces to the drill string and a main drilling means for providing anormal motive force that is substantially constant on the drill stringto cause the drill string to penetrate in a boring manner through theearth until reaching the selected depth for the bore hole. The maindrilling means acts directly only on the upper end of the upper sectionof the drill string, whereby the main drilling means is principally usedto cause the drill string to bore the desired hole and when the drillstring reaches an impenetrable subsurface layer, the frequency of thevibrators is increased to assist in the penetration of the drill string.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,135, to Ellett, James R., and assigned to ArgusMachine Co. Ltd., describes a hydroelectric control circuit for ahydroelectric actuator comprising, a high-low pilot valve having asensing port for connection to a flow line, a first line connecting thehigh-low pilot to a hydroelectric actuator, the first line forming asingle pressure circuit, a second line connecting the high-low pilot toa reservoir, a normally closed relief valve connected to the first linefor relief of excessive pressure, a normally closed override valveconnected to the first line for manual override of circuit controls anda pump connected to the first line for pressuring the first line.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,783, to Etheridge, Reggie H., and unassigned,describes a valve for controlling a fluid flow, the fluid having a fluidpressure with the valve comprising, a valve housing being substantiallytubular and comprising; a tubular wall defining a fluid flow path withinthe tubular wall. The valve housing defines an inlet for receiving thefluid into the fluid flow path and the valve housing defining an outletthrough which the fluid exits from the fluid flow path of the valvehousing. The valve housing defines a stem aperture within the tubularwall, a rotatable stem extending through the stem aperture with therotatable stem having a stem axis of rotation and a stem drive elementfor the rotatable stem drive shaft. A closure element is slidablymounted for linear movement with respect to valve housing to therebycontrol the fluid flow through the valve and a plurality ofinterconnection members for interconnecting the rotatable shaft and theclosure element where the plurality of interconnection members areslidably mounted to at least one of the stem drive element or theclosure element.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,772,786, to Ellett, James R., and assigned to ArgusMachine Co. Ltd., describes a hydroelectric control circuit comprising,a control line connected to a device to be controlled by fluid pressurein the control line, a time-out valve on the control line with thetime-out valve having a time-out period during which time-out periodoperation of the time-out valve is delayed after actuation of thetime-out valve and a pump connected to the control line for pressurizingthe control line with fluid. An arming valve operated by pressure on anarming line is connected to the control line and the arming valve isconnected to the time-out valve to reduce the time-out period inresponse to pressure on the control line.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Disclosed is a device, method and system for a hydroelectric controlvalve (HCV) which is responsive to the flow and pressure of fluid withina pipeline which reacts to stop the flow of fluids. It is a device,method and system wherein the device has a pressure and flow sensingcapability, which senses a change in the nominal inflow or pressure,activates the HCV to block the flow of fluid in a pipeline, and a fluidmeans for deactivating the HCV to resume normal flow.

An embodiment of this disclosure includes the fact that the HCV can beopened or closed remotely with minimal energy consumption by theactivation control valves.

An embodiment of this disclosure includes an HCV device that is builtinto a fluid pipeline comprising four pipe sections in a cross patternwith an inlet section attached to a pipeline where the fluid flows fromand into the HCV, an outlet section in line with the input sectionwherein fluid flows from the HCV, a bell reservoir section that iscapped and a seat reservoir section that is capped that are in line witheach other and perpendicular to the fluid flow of the pipeline. From theinput section, there is an electrical activation channel attached to thebell reservoir section and a second hydraulic poppet channel incommunications with a locating needle head. A deactivation channelconnects the input section and the seat reservoir section. The bellreservoir section also has a bell relief channel in fluid communicationwith the outlet section. From the seat reservoir section there is a seatreservoir relief channel also in fluid communications with the outletsection.

An embodiment of the electrical activation channel includes a pressuresensor and/or a flow sensor that monitors pressure and/or flow to createa “signature” in a datastream of the fluid in the pipeline. Thesignature (or pressure or flowrate) is then transmitted to a computerfor analysis, compared to other signatures, depending on the type offluid that should be in the pipeline. If an anomalous signature issensed, the computer causes the activation solenoid valve to fully openin the electrical activation channel so that the fluid moves forcefullyinto the bell reservoir section filling fluid into the needle basechamber and needle base and pushes the needle across and through thepipeline into the needle seat The fluid in the hydraulic poppet channelmay be assisted by the addition of an inline pump. Maximum movement ofthe locating needle within the bell urges the bell to laterally moveacross the pipeline flow thereby controlling the flow of fluids withinthe pipeline.

Another embodiment includes the use of a hydroelectric pump which may behoused within the hydraulic poppet channel to aid in filling the bellflow chamber with fluid.

Another embodiment includes a fluid driven turbine propelled by thefluid flowing in the deactivation channel by rotating an internalturbine system coupled to an electrical generator thereby providingelectrical power to internal sensors, transducers and battery(s) whereinthe turbine is located in the deactivation channel between the inletsection and the seat reservoir for use in powering any or all of thedevices located in any or all of the channels connecting the pipelinesections.

Another embodiment includes providing a possible need for nudging theneedle base or the needle head to start the dual action piston motionwithin the either the bell reservoir section or the seat reservoirsection. Using a manual or automatically driven worm gear device thatcan push the needle may be necessary and can be remotely controlled.

Another embodiment includes the use of a self cleaning screeningmechanism which lies in the portholes that provide access entry into theelectrical activation channel, hydraulic poppet channel, and activationchannel. These self cleaning screens are located on either side of theupper main pipeline and are utilized depending on the cleanliness of thefluid, gas, and/or environment.

Another embodiment includes an FTD located within the seat reservoirrelief channel wherein when the bell is fully sealing the pipeline theFTD stops fluid from flowing in the seat reservoir relief channel andbacking up into the seat reservoir where the pressure of the seatreservoir and the bell end reservoir reach a pressure stasis therebymaintaining the bell position within the pipeline without furtherpressure mechanical or hydroelectric influences.

An embodiment includes an HCV that may be used in a pipeline fortransporting fluids or controlling fluid flow, such as, but not limitedto; transporting fluid, gas, water, brine, slurry, sewage or beer.

Another embodiment includes an HCV incorporating a bell to shut offfluid flow in a pipeline wherein the bell does not have a locatingneedle or locating needle head to move laterally to urge the lateralmovement of the bell across the pipeline wherein the movement of thebell is urged by hydraulic pressure of the fluid through a pump locatedin the hydraulic poppet channel.

Another embodiment includes an HCV that is inserted inline into apipeline shaped with a perpendicular pipe section that contains a leverthat is connected to a hydroelectric tube containing optionally ahydroelectric pump and a piston assembly. Also, mechanically connectedto the piston assembly is a dual-faced piston that has a first chamberand a second chamber wherein the dual-faced piston has an input side andan output side depending on the direction of fluid flow and the pistonhas a first face and a second face residing between the end wall of thefirst chamber and the end wall of the second chamber. As a hydroelectricforce is supplied to the first chamber side of the first face the pistonmoves away from the end wall of the first chamber toward the end wall ofthe second chamber, urging the linkage connected to the lever to move ina direction to actuate a gate or valve within the pipeline sectionthereby preventing the pipeline from a fluid flow. Inversely, as thepressure in the first chamber decreases the piston moves toward the endwall of the first chamber, thereby urging the mechanical linkageconnected to the lever to move in a direction so as to cause the gate orvalve within the pipeline to open thereby causing the fluid to flow inthe pipeline.

Another embodiment includes an HCV that is a ball valve design that isactuated by hydroelectric actuated piston acting on a lever.

Another embodiment is an HCV piston assembly with two chambers that area first chamber and a second chamber with a first chamber having aninflow channel and a relief channel, each with a valve, and a secondchamber with an outflow channel and a relief channel, each with a valve.

Another embodiment includes an HCV ball valve design with ahydroelectric piston that acts bi-directionally on an actuating lever.

Another embodiment includes an HCV ball valve design within a pipelinewherein the ball valve is to prevent or permit a fluid flow via ahydroelectric piston attached to a linkage to a ball valve actuatinglever. An isolator pressure assembly is connected to the pipeline fluidflow by an isolator input channel and a reservoir input channel that isattached to the pipeline. The isolator input channel has an isolatorinput channel valve in-line and attaches more specifically to a firstisolator chamber within the isolator pressure assembly. The firstisolator chamber has an isolator disk creating two sections within thefirst isolator chamber. The other side of the isolator disk is a secondchamber that is filled with fluid or hydroelectric fluid such that whenthe first isolator chamber begins to fill, the isolator disk moves intothe area of the second isolator chamber thereby forcing fluid out of thesecond isolator chamber and into a piston activator channel and therebyinto an piston second chamber. The fluid in the piston second chamberpressure increases, thus moving a dual-faced piston in a directionwithin the piston assembly. A linkage attached to the dual-faced pistonattaches on the other end to a lever on the ball valve wherein when thedual-faced piston moves due to the pressure of the fluid, the movementof the dual-faced piston translates into movement of the linkage therebymoving the lever of the ball valve to urge the ball valve to close.

Within the reservoir input channel is a reservoir input channel valvethat is closed thereby preventing the flow of fluid into the reservoirpressure chamber. The reservoir pressure chamber has a reservoir diskwithin it creating a reservoir secondary chamber which is filled withfluid. The reservoir secondary chamber is attached to the piston primarychamber via a reservoir piston channel. As the fluid pressure in thepiston second chamber thereby increases, thus moving a dual-faced pistonin a direction decreasing the volume of the piston primary chamber,fluid is urged from the piston primary chamber into the reservoir pistonchannel and into the reservoir secondary chamber whereby the reservoirsecondary chamber volume expands against the reservoir disk therebydecreasing the volume of the reservoir primary chamber causing fluidflow down the reservoir output channel past the open reservoir outputchannel valve and into the pipeline downstream of the ball valve.

In order to open the ball valve, fluid flow from the pipeline flowsthrough the reservoir input channel and reservoir input channel valveand into the reservoir primary chamber. The isolator input channel valveis closed preventing fluid flow. As fluid flow increases in thereservoir primary chamber the reservoir disk moves toward the reservoirsecondary chamber urging the fluid in the reservoir secondary chamber tomove into the piston primary chamber via the reservoir piston channel.The increase in fluid in the piston primary chamber causes thedual-faced piston to move toward the piston second chamber therebymoving the fluid from the piston second chamber and into the pistonactivator channel. The fluid then flows into the second isolator chambercausing the isolator disk to move into the first isolator chamber,decreasing the volume of the first isolator chamber and urging the fluidflow out the isolator relief channel through the open isolator reliefchannel valve and into the fluid flow of the pipeline.

Another embodiment includes an HCV wherein the first isolator chamberand the reservoir primary chamber only contain fluid flow from thepipeline.

Another embodiment includes an HCV wherein the second isolator chamberand the reservoir secondary chamber only contain fluid or hydroelectricfluid.

Another embodiment includes HCV wherein the isolator disk and thereservoir disk form separate and isolated systems where the fluid orhydroelectric fluid of the dual-faced piston is separate from the fluidflowing in the pipeline.

Another embodiment includes an HCV wherein the isolator relief channeland/or the reservoir output channel has a turbine that is activated byfluid flow that is attached to an inductive fluid for generation ofelectrical power to be used for solenoids, instrumentation or batteriesfor storage of the electrical power generated.

Another embodiment includes an HCV wherein the isolator input channeland/or the reservoir input channel has a pump for moving fluid into thefirst isolator chamber or the reservoir primary chamber.

Another embodiment includes an HCV wherein the linkage attachment to theball valve lever is a rack and pinion system to translate the linearmotion of the piston into rotational motion to actuate the ball valve.

Another embodiment includes an HCV wherein the activation and/ordeactivation of the valves are controlled by computer or operator.

Another embodiment includes an HCV that is a flow throttling device(FTD) place within a pipeline that is connected hydroelectrically to avalving assembly near the FTD but outside the pipeline. When adisruption in the flow of fluid in the pipeline causes theinstrumentation to sense a high or low flow volume of pressurecondition, a computer or an operator activates a series of valves toblock or encourage fluid flow through the valving assembly and/or thepipeline. An input tube is connected on the upside of the fluid flowingwithin the pipeline and to the valving assembly through an upper inputsolenoid valve and a lower input solenoid valve. The fluid flowing inthe pipeline provides a displacement volume for the valving assembly.When the upper input solenoid valve and/or lower input solenoid valve isactivated and caused to be open, the fluid flows into the valvingassembly creating a pressure in the valving assembly that is higher thanthe nominal fluid flow pressure thereby causing the fluid flow down aFTD link channel that is connected to the FTD actuator valve. The FTDactuator valve is then urged into the FTD actuator seat stopping thefluid flow in the pipeline. The upper output solenoid valve and/or thelower output solenoid valve remains closed wherein the fluid remains inthe valving assembly. Closure of the upper input solenoid valve, lowerinput solenoid valve, upper output solenoid valve and the lower outputsolenoid valve keeps the pressure in the system in stasis wherein theFTD remains in the FTD actuator seat blocking the fluid flow in thepipeline.

When the upper output solenoid valve and/or the lower output solenoidvalve is activated opening the valve, the fluid flows through thevalving assembly to an output tube thereby releasing hydraulic pressurewithin the valving assembly, FTD link channel and FTD actuator valveallowing the FTD actuator valve to open and permit the flow of fluidwithin the pipeline.

Another embodiment includes a flow throttling device (FTD) that isplaced linearly within a pipeline as an HCV for stopping and resumingthe flow of fluids within a pipeline wherein the fluid flow causes theFTD to generate a signature data stream up hole to a computer and if thesignature data stream should become varied the computer activates aseries of solenoid valves to open or close thereby activating the FTD tostop or resume the flow of fluid in the pipeline.

In addition, the use of these designs can be extended to determiningmore information regarding the fluid/gas/water fluids within a lateralpassage by measuring the magnitude of the pulses at distances remotefrom the downhole bore location. Sensors which may be placed atdifferent locations in various lateral passages could be used toindicate pulse magnitude, travel distance and velocity during or in theabsence fluid flow as required by the operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overview of the hydroelectric control valve (HCV) and howit interconnects to a pipeline.

FIG. 1A is a cross sectional version of FIG. 1 showing a 2-way HCV.

FIG. 2 is a sectional detail of FIG. 1 showing the HCV in a nominallyopen position with phantom lines showing the HCV in the closed position.

FIG. 3A is a sectional detail of an alternative HCV using a standardball valve that is actuated and deactuated using a two chambered pistonthat is with the fluid flow controlled by opening and closing solenoidvalves.

FIG. 3B is a sectional detail of the piston assembly of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an HCV using isolator pressure chambers coupledto a piston assembly used to activate and deactivate a standard ballvalve assembly.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the isolator pressure assembly.

FIG. 6 is a schematic with a flow throttling device (FTD) in a pipelinethat is controllable and used as an HCV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of the hydroelectric control valve (HCV) [100] andits placement inline with a pipeline or main flow channel [105] used totransport fluid [110] and the direction of the pipeline fluid flow[115]. The HCV [100] is responsive to the flow and pressure of the fluid[110] in the pipeline. The HCV [100] responds to a change in pipelinefluid flow [115] and/or pressure to stop or at least limit the pipelinefluid flow [115] in the main pipeline or main flow channel [105].Alternately, the HCV [100] can be opened or closed remotely with minimalenergy consumption and allows for activation of the control valves [161]and [151] (shown FIG. 1A). The HCV [100] is constructed in a cross shapewith an inlet section [120] that is upstream of the pipeline fluid flow[115] where the pipeline fluid flows [115] into the HCV [100].Downstream from the input section [120] is an output section [125].Perpendicular to the main pipeline [105], are; on the left side, thebell reservoir section [130] having a bell end cap [135], and on theright side is the seat reservoir section [140] which contains a seatreservoir end cap [145]. In actual use, the bell reservoir section [130]and the seat reservoir section [140] may be rotated axially around thecenterline of the main pipeline [105] such that the main pipeline [105]and the input section [120] and output section [125] may be joined byany available means.

From the input section [120] in fluid communication to the bellreservoir section [130] is an electrical activation channel [150] and ahydraulic poppet channel [155]. Starting with the input section [120] influid communication to the seat reservoir section [140] is adeactivation channel [160]. Following the direction of fluid flow [115],from the bell reservoir section [130] in fluid communication to theoutput section [125] is a bell relief channel [165] and from the seatreservoir section [140] in fluid communication to the output section[125] is a seat reservoir relief channel [170].

FIG. 1A is a cross sectional version of a 2-way HCV [100] comprising amain flow channel or main pipeline [105] and four control channels,electrical activation channel [150], activation channel [160], bellrelief channel [165], and seat reservoir relief channel [170], and avalve travel channel [131] through which the dual acting piston (DAP)[136] that includes two ends namely, the open valve piston end [137] anda closed valve piston end [138] that travels within the valve travelchannel [131]. In the valve open position at time T0, the DAP [136] doesnot block pipeline fluid flow [115] through the main flow channel [105]such that the DAP [136] is located on the left side of the main pipeline[105]. At time T1, the control valve [166] and activation control valve[161] are in the open position and simultaneously the other controlvalves, the activation control valve [151] and the control valve [171]are placed in the closed position.

At time T2, the activation control valve [151] and control valve [171]are in the open position and the control valve [166] and the activationcontrol valve [161] are in the closed position then the DAP [136]traverses across the valve travel channel [131] due to the pressureincrease that occurs within the bell reservoir section [130] caused bythe flow of fluid through control channel [150] which causes pressure tobe applied on the open valve piston end [137]. The DAP [136] traversespast the main flow channel [105] and blocks the fluid flow [115] throughthe main flow channel [105] such that the DAP [136] is now located onthe right side of the valve travel channel [131]. At time T3, the DAP[136] comes to a stop in the main flow channel [105] thereby completelyblocking the main flow channel [105]. Complete seating of the DAP [136]that is substantially leak free and accomplishes a complete seal andproper guidance of the DAP [136] within the valve travel channel [131]utilizes fins [180 and 181] attached to and extending above and belowthe exterior surface of the DAP [136] to ensure complete sealing,closure, and alignment of the DAP within the valve travel channel [131].In addition to the sealing accomplished by the fins [180 and 181] fourset of seals [183, 184, 185, and 186] and are located on the valvetravel channel body [131] on either side of the main flow channel [105]in order to prevent leakage into the piston area. This results incomplete stoppage of the main fluid flow [115] through the main flowchannel [105]. Once the DAP [136] has seated and shut off or reducedflow within the pipeline [105], the activation control valve [161] inthe deactivation channel [160] remains closed and the control valve[171] in the seat reservoir relief channel [170] stays open.

In order to reopen the main flow channel [105] at time T4 using the DAP[136] the control valve [166] is opened to release the pressure appliedon the open valve piston end [137] and activation control valve [151]and the control valve [171] are closed. The activation control valve[161] is simultaneously opened which results in a fluid pressure buildupin the seat reservoir section [140] which is then applied to the closedvalve piston end [138] causing the dual acting piston [136] to move backacross the valve travel channel [131] and allowing the main fluid flow[115] through the main flow channel [105] to resume unimpeded.

In operation, as the diameter of the control channels, electricalactivation channel [150], activation channel [160], bell relief channel[165], and seat reservoir relief channel [170], is increased, the speedat which the valve opens and closes also increases. The amount of energyrequired to control the operation of this HCV [100] is minimal andunique in comparison with the manner in which control valves, pressuresand fluid flowing through the pipeline is utilized. Due to the smallamount of energy required to close any sized valve, this actuationsystem can be powered by rechargeable batteries (using solar, wind,wave, geothermal, hydraulic or any other available source of energy).The ability to have operational geographic independence of the HCVallows it to be used in essentially any remote environments includingsubsea-level, subterranean, within a wellbore, or anywhere that largepower requirements are inconvenient for supplying power to open andclose valves. Even in areas with convenient power availability, the HCVcan be used as a back-up in the event of power losses where safety orsecurity is necessary.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1 showing the HCV [100] in anominally open position with phantom lines showing the HCV [100] in theclosed position. The HCV [100] can traverse to a closed position in theevent of an open pipeline [105] due to destruction caused by sabotage,fire, natural disasters, or severe weather. In the electrical activationchannel [150] or the main flow channel [105] is a pressure sensor and/ora flow sensor (not shown) that monitors pressure and/or flow to create a“signature” in a datastream of the fluid [110] in the pipeline [105].The signature (or pressure or flowrate) is then transmitted to acomputer (not shown) for analysis, compared to other signatures,depending on the type of fluid [110] that should be in the pipeline[105]. If an anomalous signature is sensed, the computer causes theactivation solenoid valve [201] to fully open in the electricalactivation channel [150] so that the fluid [110] moves forcefully intothe bell reservoir section [130] filling fluid into the needle basechamber [205] and needle base [225] and pushes the needle [230] acrossthe pipeline [105] into the needle seat [245]. Nearly simultaneously, inthe hydraulic poppet channel [155] a bell solenoid valve [215] movesfrom a closed position to an open position allowing fluid [110] toforcefully flow into the bell flow chamber [206] which forces the bellhousing [220] across the pipeline [105] and close the HCV [100]. Theneedle base [225] is in close relationship with the bell housing [220]forming a cylinder and piston configuration. As the fluid [110] flowsinto the needle base chamber [205] the needle [230] is urged toward theseat reservoir section [140] perpendicular to and across the pipeline[105]. At this point a bell reservoir section shutoff valve [235]residing in the bell relief channel [165] is closed thereby stoppingfluid [110] from flowing in the bell relief channel [165] creating abackpressure in the bell reservoir section [130] urging the shutoff bell[240] to move toward the seat reservoir section [140]. The needle [230]urged by the hydraulic pressure from the bell housing [220] on theneedle head [227] contacting and seating on the needle seat [245]located in the seat reservoir section [140]. As the needle [230] movesinto the needle seat [245] the underside of the needle base [225]contacts the base of the shutoff bell [240] and bell housing [220]supplying additional force on the shutoff bell [240] and bell housing[220] to move across the pipeline [105]. When the needle [230] has fullytraversed the needle seat [245] the shutoff bell [240] has closed offthe pipeline [105] from any fluid [110] flowing past the shutoff bell[240].

Optionally a hydroelectric pump [250] may used be within the hydraulicpoppet channel [155] to aid in filling the bell flow chamber [206] withfluid [110].

If needed, a turbine generator [255] is located within the deactivationchannel [160]. that generates electrical power for operation ofinstrumentation, operation of the bell reservoir section shutoff valve[235], the seat reservoir relief shutoff valve [260] located in the seatreservoir relief channel [170], and for battery energy (not shown)storage.

Once the needle [230] has seated and the shutoff bell [240] has closedoff or reduced flow within the pipeline [105], the seat reservoir reliefshutoff valve [260] closes thereby controlling fluid [110] from reachingthe output section [125] downstream of the HCV [100]. The pressures arethen equalized in the bell reservoir section [130] and the seatreservoir section [140] causing the shutoff bell [240] to remain instasis.

Additionally, the shutoff bell [240] may not have a needle [230] as aguide to move into the seat reservoir section [140] wherein fluid [110]from both the electrical activation channel [150] and the hydraulicpoppet channel [155] may both urge the shutoff bell [240] across thepipeline [105].

Opening the pipeline [105] to resume the flow of fluid [110] proceeds asfollows: the bell reservoir section shutoff valve [235] and thedeactivation solenoid valve [261] are opened allowing fluid to flow intothe output section [125] thereby decreasing the pressure of the fluid[110] in the needle base chamber [205] and bell flow chamber [206]allowing the shutoff bell [240] to move into the bell reservoir section[130]. In addition, the seat reservoir relief shutoff valve [260]remains closed thereby controlling fluid [110] by increasing thepressure in the seat reservoir section [140] and applying pressure onthe needle head [227] dislodging it from the needle seat [245] andapplying pressure on the shutoff bell [240] such that the bell cantraverse across the pipeline [105]. Once the shutoff bell [240] hasmoved from being in contact with the seat reservoir section [140], fluidbegins to flow from the upper main fluid flow [115] to the lower mainfluid flow [116] in the pipeline [105]. The pressure and/or flow sensors(not shown) are returned to their original states wherein they resumesending information to the computer (not shown) for analysis and theactivation solenoid valve [201] and bell solenoid valve [215] areclosed, thus stopping the flow of fluid [110] thru the input section[120]. The seat reservoir relief shutoff valve [260] then opens allowingthe flow of fluid [110] to turn the turbine [255] thereby generatingelectrical power that can be utilized to power the HCV [100] in theevent that the HCV is not fully powered via hydraulic means. The flow offluid [110] then passes through the seat reservoir section [140],through the seat reservoir relief channel [170] to the output section[125] of the lower portion of the main pipeline [105].

Optionally, if there is a need to nudge the needle base [225] or theneedle head [227] to start the dual action piston motion within eitherthe bell reservoir section [130] or the seat reservoir section [140] anoptional worm gear device [290] can be employed which pushes the needleusing manual, automatic, or remote control [297] via mechanical orelectrical means. This device is comprised of a hollow piston shaft[291], a worm gear device [290], manual, automatic, or remote controldevice [297], and an indented portion [295] to allow for nudging theneedle head [227] located in the seat reservoir section [140] and a flathead [296] to allow for nudging the needle base [225] located in thebell reservoir section [130].

Optionally, for FIG. 1A and FIG. 2 a self cleaning screening mechanism(not shown) which lies in the portholes that provide access entry intothe electrical activation channel [150], hydraulic poppet channel [155],and activation channel [160], on either side of the upper main pipeline[105] can be utilized, depending on the cleanliness of the fluid, gas,and/or environmental surroundings.

FIG. 3A illustrates and describes an HCV [100] that uses a ball valve[305] within a pipeline [105] that is attached to and activated by apiston activated HCV [300]. The ball valve [305] is attached to a lever[310] that rotates the ball valve [305] to open the pipeline [105] orclose the pipeline [105] allowing the fluid [110] to flow downstream.The fluid flow [115] in FIG. 3A is from top to bottom however thepipeline [105] may be rotated so the lever [310] is at any horizontal orvertical position. Attached to the inflow section [315] of the pipeline[105] is a piston assembly [320] that is activated by the fluid [110].Fluid [110] is allowed to enter the piston assembly [320] via anactuator inflow channel [325] or an actuator outflow channel [330]urging a dual-faced piston [335] in a direction so as to move linkage-1[340] attached to a lever [310] thus moving the ball valve [305].Downstream of the ball valve [305] is the outflow section [390] whichreconnects to the pipeline [105].

FIG. 3B is a sectional detail of the piston assembly [320] of the HCV[100] described in FIG. 3A. The piston assembly [320] is in fluidcommunication with the inflow section [315] (shown in FIG. 3A) of thepipeline [105] (shown in FIG. 3A) via the actuator inflow channel [325]and inflow channel valve [345] and actuator outflow channel [330] andoutflow channel valve [350]. The piston assembly [320] houses adual-faced piston [335] in a fluid chamber [355] wherein the dual-facedpiston [335] creates a first fluid chamber [360] and a second fluidchamber [365] that change in volume as the dual-faced piston [335]slides within the fluid chamber [355]. The first fluid chamber [360] andthe second fluid chamber [365] are also connected to an inflow reliefchannel [370] and an outflow relief channel [375] containing an inflowrelief valve [380] and an outflow relief valve [385] respectively.

The piston assembly [320] moves in one direction when the inflow channelvalve [345] is opened and fluid [110] flows into the actuator inflowchannel [325] and into the first fluid chamber [360]. The inflow reliefvalve [380] is closed thereby capturing the fluid [110] in the firstfluid chamber [360]. The outflow channel valve [350] is also closed andthe outflow relief valve [385] is opened. In this manner the fluid [110]flows through the actuator inflow channel [325] and into the firstchamber [360] and is restricted from flowing any further by the closedinflow relief valve [380]. Pressure builds in the first fluid chamber[360] and against a first face [337] of the dual-faced piston [335]urging the dual-faced piston [335] toward the second fluid chamber[365]. Fluid [110] from the second fluid chamber [365] is urged into theoutflow relief channel [375] and past the outflow relief valve [385] andinto the outflow section [390] (shown in FIG. 3A) of the pipeline [105](shown in FIG. 3A). The linkage-1 [340] attached to the dual-facedpiston [335] urges the lever [310] (shown in FIG. 3A) of the ball valve[305] (shown in FIG. 3A) in a direction to open or close the ball valve[305] (shown in FIG. 3A) to restrict the pipeline [105] (shown in FIG.3A) and stop fluid [110] from flowing.

In another operating mode, the inflow channel valve [345] is closed andthe inflow relief valve [380] is opened allowing fluid [110] to flowfrom the first fluid chamber [360] into the inflow relief channel [370]past the open inflow relief valve [380] to the outflow section [390](shown in FIG. 3A) and into the pipeline [105] (shown in FIG. 3A). Theoutflow channel valve [350] is opened and the outflow relief valve [385]is closed allowing fluid [110] to flow through the actuator outflowchannel [330] and into the second fluid chamber [365]. The fluid [110]exerts a pressure on the second face [338] of the dual-faced piston[335] and urges the dual-faced piston [335] toward the first fluidchamber [360] thus moving the linkage-1 [340]. The linkage-1 [340] isattached to the lever [310] (shown in FIG. 3A) of the ball valve [305](shown in FIG. 3A) and the movement of the dual-faced piston [335],linkage-1 [340] and the lever [310] (shown in FIG. 3A) opens the ballvalve [305] (shown in FIG. 3A) within the pipeline [105] (shown in FIG.3A) allowing fluid [110] to flow through the pipeline [105] (shown inFIG. 3A).

FIG. 4 is a schematic of an HCV [100] and isolator pressure assembly[400] using a isolator pressure chamber [405] and a reservoir pressurechamber [410] coupled to a piston assembly [415] which is used toactivate and deactivate a ball valve [305] within a pipeline [105].

Attached, and in fluid communication with the pipeline [105], is anisolator input channel [420] having an isolator input channel valve[425] and attached to an isolator pressure chamber [405]. Additionally,there is a reservoir input channel [430] having a reservoir input valve[435] and attached to a reservoir pressure chamber [410]. From theisolator pressure chamber [405] is a piston activator channel [440]which is attached to the lower portion of the piston assembly [415] andan isolator relief channel [445] with an isolator relief channel valve[450] wherein the isolator relief channel [445] is attached to thepipeline [105] downstream of the ball valve [305]. The piston activatorchannel [440] transmits forced hydraulic fluid [455] (shown in FIG. 5)into the piston assembly [415] urging a dual-faced piston [460] which isattached to a linkage-2 [465] in a direction transmitted to the lever[310] of the ball valve [305] thus moving the ball valve [305] to aclosed position within the pipeline [105].

Attached to the reservoir pressure chamber [410] is the reservoir pistonchannel [470] which attaches to the top portion of the piston assembly[415]. The isolator pressure chamber [405], piston activator channel[440], piston assembly [415], reservoir piston channel [470] andreservoir pressure chamber [410] form a closed loop for the forcedhydraulic fluid [455] (shown in FIG. 5) keeping the forced hydraulicforced hydraulic fluid [455] (shown in FIG. 5) and media fluid [110]separate from each other. Further details on the operation will beexplained in FIG. 5.

A reservoir output channel [475] is attached to, and in fluidcommunication with, the reservoir pressure chamber [410]. The reservoiroutput channel [475] also contains the reservoir output channel valve[480] and is attached to the pipeline [105] downstream of the ball valve[305].

Optionally there may be a turbine generator [255] in either the isolatorrelief channel [445] or the reservoir output channel [475] forgenerating electricity.

Optionally a hydroelectric pump [250] may be placed within either theisolator input channel [420] or the reservoir input channel [430] toassist the fluid [110] flow into the isolator pressure chamber [405] orthe reservoir pressure chamber [410].

Linkage-1 [340], as shown in FIG. 3, and linkage-2 [465], as shown inFIG. 4 may include teeth providing a rack and lever [310] and may alsoinclude teeth as a pinion for actuation of the ball valve [305].

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the isolator pressure assembly [400] usedfor actuating and de-actuating an HCV [100] within a pipeline [105].When isolator input channel valve [425] is open, reservoir input channelvalve [435] is closed, isolator relief channel valve [450] is closed andreservoir output channel valve [480] is open, fluid [110] is allowed toflow from the pipeline [105] past the open isolator input channel valve[425] and into the isolator pressure chamber [405]. Once the fluid fillsthe first isolator chamber [505] and isolator relief channel [445] up tothe isolator relief channel valve [450] it exerts a pressure on theisolator disk [510] and urges the isolator disk [510] to move toward thesecond isolator chamber [515]. The second isolator chamber [515] isfilled with forced hydraulic fluid [455] which flows from the secondisolator chamber [515] into the piston activator channel [440] and intothe lower portion of the piston assembly [415]. The forced hydraulicfluid [455] fills the piston second chamber [520] exerting pressure onthe secondary piston face [525] urging the dual-faced piston [460]toward the piston primary chamber [530]. Forced hydraulic fluid [455] inthe piston primary chamber [530] is then urged by the piston primaryface [535] to exit the piston primary chamber [530] into the reservoirpiston channel [470] and into the reservoir secondary chamber [540]urging the reservoir disk [545] toward the reservoir primary chamber[550]. As the reservoir disk [545] moves into the reservoir primarychamber fluid [110] in the reservoir primary chamber [550] is urged outthe reservoir output channel [475] past the reservoir output channelvalve [480] and into the pipeline [105] downstream of the ball valve[305]. In this manner, the fluid [110] and the forced hydraulic fluid[455] are kept separate from each other in a close circuit by theisolator pressure chamber [405] and isolator disk [510] and thereservoir pressure chamber [410] and reservoir disk [545].

As described earlier, when the forced hydraulic fluid [455] fills thepiston second chamber [520] exerting pressure on the secondary pistonface [525] urging the dual-faced piston [460] toward the piston primarychamber [530], the dual-faced piston [460] moves the linkage-2 [465]connected to lever [310] with thereby closing the ball valve [305] andthus stopping the fluid [110] flow within the pipeline [105].

To open the ball valve [305] in the pipeline [105] the followingconditions exist. The isolator input channel valve [425] is closed, thereservoir input channel valve [435] is opened, the reservoir outputchannel valve [480] is closed and the isolator relief channel valve[450] is opened. Closing the isolator input channel valve [425]restricts fluid [110] from flowing in the isolator input channel [420]while opening the reservoir input channel valve [435] permits fluid[110] to flow into the reservoir pressure chamber [410], morespecifically into the reservoir primary chamber [550] up to the closedreservoir output channel valve [480] where the fluid [110] then fillsthe reservoir primary chamber [550] exerting a force on the reservoirdisk [545] and urging it into the reservoir secondary chamber [540]. Asthe reservoir disk [545] moves into the reservoir secondary chamber[540] the forced hydraulic fluid [455] in the reservoir secondarychamber [540] is pushed out into the reservoir piston channel [470] andinto the piston primary chamber [530]. The pressure of the forcedhydraulic fluid [455] on the piston primary face [535] urges thedual-faced piston [460] to move into the piston second chamber [520]thereby moving the linkage-2 [465] to move the lever [310] and ballvalve [305] to an open position within the pipeline [105].

The forced hydraulic fluid [455] in the piston second chamber [520]flows out through the piston activator channel [440], into the secondisolator chamber [515] creating a pressure on the isolator disk [510]urging the isolator disk [510] to move into the first isolator chamber[505] thereby displacing the fluid [110] out through the isolator reliefchannel [445], past the isolator relief channel valve [450] and into thepipeline [105] downstream of the ball valve [305]. Valves [425, 435,450, and 480] may be manipulated by an operator or computer in asequence to urge the dual-faced piston [460] in either direction,thereby preventing the flow of fluid [110] in the pipeline [105].

FIG. 6 describes a flow throttling device (FTD) [210] linearly placedwithin a pipeline [105] that is externally controllable by a computer(not shown) or operator (not shown) and used as an HCV [100] in apipeline [105]. A piston assembly [620] that is similar to the onedescribed in FIG. 3 is used to create a hydraulic pressure within apiston assembly [620]. Fluid [110] is allowed to enter the pistonassembly [620] via an actuator inflow channel [625] or an actuatoroutflow channel [630] urging a dual-faced piston [635] in a direction soas to move fluid into an activation channel [605]. The piston assembly[620] moves in a downward direction when the inflow channel valve [645]is opened and fluid [110] flows into the actuator inflow channel [625]and into the first fluid chamber [660]. The inflow relief valve [680] isclosed thereby capturing the fluid [110] in the first fluid chamber[660]. The outflow channel valve [650] and the outflow relief valve[685] are also closed. In this manner the fluid [110] flows through theactuator inflow channel [625] and into the first chamber [660] and isrestricted from flowing any further due to the closed inflow reliefvalve [680]. Hydraulic pressure builds in the first fluid chamber [660]and against a first face [637] of the dual-faced piston [635] urging thedual-faced piston [635] toward the second fluid chamber [665]. Thehydraulic pressure pushes the fluid [110] from the second fluid chamber[665], such that the fluid exits the piston assembly [620] andsubsequently enters an activation channel [605] which is in fluidcommunication with an FTD bell [610]. The hydraulic pressure moves theFTD bell [610] into contact with an FTD bell seat [615] thus sealing theFTD [210] preventing fluid [110] to flow within a pipeline [105].

Inversely, hydraulic pressure is relieved from the activation channel[605] thereby allowing the FTD bell [610] to move off the FTD bell seat[615] permitting fluid [110] to flow within the pipeline [105]. Theinflow channel valve [645] is closed and the inflow relief valve [680]is opened allowing fluid [110] to flow from the first fluid chamber[660] into the inflow relief channel [670], past the open inflow reliefvalve [680] to the bottom of the pipeline [105] downstream from the FTDbell [610]. The outflow channel valve [650] and the outflow relief valve[685] remain in the open and closed position (respectively) allowingfluid [110] to flow through the actuator outflow channel [630] and intothe second fluid chamber [665]. The fluid [110] exerts hydraulicpressure on the second face [638] of the dual-faced piston [635] andurges the dual-faced piston [635] toward the first fluid chamber [660]thus relieving the pressure in the activation channel [605] therebyallowing the FTD bell [610] to move off the FTD bell seat [615]permitting fluid [110] to flow within the pipeline [105]. In thisconfiguration only electrical activation occurs when using the pistonassembly shown for which a dual-faced piston [635] is required.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for afluid pipeline comprising; four pipe sections forming a cross-likepattern with an inlet and outlet section attached to a pipeline whereinfluid flows into and out of said HCV; a bell reservoir section and aseat reservoir section that are both capped, wherein said bell reservoirsection and said seat reservoir section are in line with each other andare also perpendicular to fluid flow through said pipeline; whereinwithin an input section, an electrical activation channel is attached tosaid bell reservoir section, such that said bell reservoir sectionincludes both a bell relief channel in fluid communication with saidoutlet section and also a separate hydraulic poppet channel; the inputsection further including a deactivation channel for a turbine togetherwith a locating needle head and said deactivation channel connects saidinput section and said seat reservoir section; and wherein said seatreservoir section includes a seat reservoir relief channel also in fluidcommunication with said output section.
 2. The HCV of claim 1, whereinwithin said electrical activation channel or a main flow channel is apressure sensor and/or a flow sensor that monitors pressure and/or flowcreating a datastream of said fluid within said pipeline.
 3. The HCV ofclaim 1, wherein hydroelectric poppet flow within said hydraulic poppetchannel is assisted by the addition of an inline pump and whereinmaximum movement of a locating needle head said bell urges a bell tolaterally move across said pipeline thereby controlling flow of fluidsthrough said pipeline.
 4. The HCV of claim 1, wherein a turbine ispropelled by fluid flowing in said deactivation channel by rotating aninternal turbine system coupled to an electrical generator therebyproviding electrical power to internal sensors, transducers andbattery(s) and wherein said turbine is located in said deactivationchannel between said inlet section and said seat reservoir section. 5.The HCV of claim 1, wherein a flow throttling device (FTD) is locatedwithin said seat reservoir section of said seat reservoir relief channeland wherein a bell element may partially or fully seal said pipelinesuch that said FTD either slows or stops fluid from flowing into a seatreservoir relief channel and wherein said FTD backs up into said seatreservoir section such that said seat reservoir section and the bellelement each reach a pressure stasis thereby maintaining the position ofthe bell element within said pipeline without further mechanical orhydraulic pressure action.
 6. The HCV of claim 1, wherein said HCV isused in a pipeline for transporting fluids or controlling fluid flow,includes; transporting fluid, gas, water, brine, slurry, sewage oralcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.
 7. The HCV of claim 1, whereinsaid HCV includes a bell to control fluid flow in a pipeline whereinsaid bell moves laterally such that said bell is urged and continueslateral movement of said bell across said pipeline and wherein saidlateral movement of said bell is forced by hydraulic pressure of fluidcoming from a pump located within said hydraulic poppet channel.
 8. TheHCV of claim 1, wherein said HCV is inserted inline into a pipeline,said pipeline including a perpendicular pipe shaped section thatcontains a lever that is connected to a hydroelectric tube containing ahydroelectric pump and a piston assembly and wherein said pistonassembly connects with a dual-faced piston that has a first chamber anda second chamber wherein said dual-faced piston has an input side and anoutput side, wherein said input side or said output side depends on thedirection of fluid flow and said dual-faced piston has a first face anda second face residing between an end wall of the first chamber and anend wall of the second chamber.
 9. The HCV of claim 1 wherein said HCVincludes a ball valve within a pipeline wherein said ball valve isprovided to control fluid flow via a hydroelectric piston attached to alinkage that provides attachment to a ball valve actuating lever. 10.The hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline or wellboreof claim 1, wherein said control valve is actuated using wirelessdevices for actuation.
 11. The hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for afluid pipeline of claim 1, wherein said control valve is actuated usingenergy from batteries or other energy storage devices, that arerecharged through solar energy, wind energy, wave energy, fluid flow orvibration within said pipeline or within a wellbore.
 12. Thehydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline of claim 1,wherein a worm gear device is located in either said bell reservoirsection or said seat reservoir section that pushes said needle usingmanual, automatic, or remote controls.
 13. The hydroelectric controlvalve (HCV) for a fluid pipeline of claim 1, wherein either side of anupper main pipeline is utilized.
 14. The hydroelectric control valve(HCV) for a fluid pipeline of claim 1, wherein signatures includingpressure, or flowrate data are transmitted to a computer for analysis,compared to other signatures to determine the type of fluid that shouldbe in said pipeline and wherein if an anomalous signature is sensed,said computer causes an activation solenoid valve to fully open in theelectrical activation channel so that said fluid moves forcefully intosaid bell reservoir section filling fluid into a needle base chamberequipped with a needle base, a needle seat and the locating needed headso that said fluid pushes said needle across said pipeline and into aneedle seat.
 15. The hydroelectric control valve (HCV) for a fluidpipeline of claim 14, wherein said fluid in said hydraulic poppetchannel is assisted by the addition of an inline pump and whereinmaximum movement of said locating needle head within a bell elementurges said bell element to laterally move across the flow path of saidpipeline thereby controlling the flow of fluid within said pipeline. 16.The HCV of claim 1, wherein hydroelectric force is supplied to a firstchamber side of a first face of a piston forcing said piston to moveaway from an end wall of said first chamber side toward said end wall ofa second chamber, urging a linkage connected to a lever to move in adirection to actuate a gate or valve within a pipeline sectionrestricting flow through said pipeline.
 17. The HCV of claim 16, whereinas said pressure in said first chamber decreases said piston movestoward an end wall of said first chamber, thereby urging a linkageconnected to a lever to move in a direction so as to cause a gate orvalve within said pipeline to open allowing ease of fluid flow withinsaid pipeline.
 18. The HCV of claim 1, wherein said HCV includes a ballvalve actuated by a hydroelectric actuated piston acting on a lever. 19.The HCV of claim 18, wherein said HCV ball valve includes said pistonthat acts bi-directionally on said lever.
 20. The HCV of claim 1,wherein an isolator pressure assembly is connected to said pipeline byan isolator input channel and a reservoir input channel wherein saidisolator input channel includes an in-line isolator input channel valvethat is attached to a first isolator chamber within said isolatorpressure assembly.
 21. The isolator assembly of claim 20, wherein afirst isolator chamber comprises an isolator disk with two sectionswithin said first isolator chamber such that on the opposing side of theisolator disk is a second chamber that is filled with fluid so that whensaid first isolator chamber begins to fill, said isolator disk movesinto the area of a second isolator chamber thereby forcing fluid out ofsaid second isolator chamber and into a piston activator channel andeventually forcing said fluid into a piston assembly within a secondchamber.
 22. The piston assembly of claim 21, wherein as fluid withinsaid piston assembly within said second chamber is compressed, fluidpressure increases, and a dual-faced piston moves in a direction withinsaid piston assembly such that a linkage attached to said dualfacedpiston which is attached on an end opposite to said lever on said ballvalve causes motion of said piston which translates into movement ofsaid linkage and which subsequently actuates said lever of said ballvalve, thereby urging closure of said ball valve.
 23. The HCV of claim1, wherein within a reservoir input channel, a reservoir input channelvalve is controlled that prevents the flow of fluid into a reservoirpressure chamber wherein said reservoir pressure chamber includes areservoir disk creating a secondary reservoir chamber filled with fluidand wherein said secondary reservoir chamber is attached to a primarypiston primary chamber via a reservoir piston channel so that as fluidpressure in said second piston chamber increases, forcing saiddual-faced piston to move in a direction of decreasing volume withinsaid primary piston chamber resulting in fluid being urged from saidprimary piston chamber into a piston reservoir channel and subsequentlyinto said secondary reservoir chamber whereby said secondary reservoirchamber volume expands against a reservoir disk, resulting in decreasedvolume within said primary reservoir chamber thereby causing fluid flowthrough a reservoir output channel and past said open reservoir outputchannel valve and into said pipeline downstream of said ball valve suchthat opening said ball valve is accomplished by; allowing fluid flowfrom said pipeline through said reservoir input channel with a reservoirinput channel valve into said primary reservoir chamber, and whereinsaid isolator input channel valve closes allowing fluid flow to increasein said primary reservoir chamber forcing said reservoir disk to movetoward said secondary reservoir chamber, urging fluid in said secondaryreservoir chamber to move into said primary piston chamber via saidpiston reservoir channel such that an increase in fluid volume in saidprimary piston chamber causes said dual-faced piston to move toward saidsecond piston chamber thereby moving fluid from said second pistonchamber into a piston activator channel allowing fluid to flow into saidsecond isolator chamber causing said isolator disk to move into saidfirst isolator chamber, decreasing the volume of said first isolatorchamber and urging fluid flow out of said isolator relief channelthrough an open isolator relief channel valve such that said fluidre-enters fluid flow within said pipeline.
 24. The HCV of claim 23,wherein said HCV is a piston assembly with two chambers that includessaid first chamber and a second chamber with said first chamber havingan inflow channel and a relief channel, each channel also containing avalve, and said second chamber with an outflow channel and a reliefchannel, each channel also containing a valve.
 25. The HCV of claim 23,wherein said first isolator chamber and a primary reservoir chambercontains only fluid flowing within said pipeline.
 26. The HCV of claim23, wherein an isolator relief channel and/or said reservoir outputchannel includes a turbine that is activated by fluid flow and that isattached to an inductive fluid for generation of electrical power forpowering solenoids, instrumentation or batteries to ensure storage ofgenerated electrical power.
 27. The HCV of claim 23, wherein an isolatorinput channel and/or a reservoir input channel includes a pump formoving fluid into either a first isolator chamber or a primary reservoirchamber or both said first isolator chamber or said primary reservoirchamber.
 28. The HCV of claim 23, wherein said a second isolator chamberand a secondary reservoir chamber contain only fluid or hydroelectricfluid.
 29. The HCV of claim 28, wherein an isolator disk and a reservoirdisk form separate and isolated systems and wherein said fluid or saidhydroelectric fluid used in connection with a dual-faced piston andpiston assembly is separate from said fluid flowing within saidpipeline.
 30. The HCV of claim 23, wherein said HCV includes a linkageattachment to a ball valve lever wherein said lever includes a rack andpinion system for translating linear motion of said piston intorotational motion, thus actuating said ball valve.
 31. The ball valve ofclaim 30, wherein said valve is activated and/or deactivated by acomputer or an operator.
 32. The HCV of claim 1, wherein said HCV is aflow throttling device (FTD) placed within a pipeline that ishydroelectrically connected to a valving assembly near said FTD butoutside of said pipeline.
 33. The FTD of claim 32, wherein, when adisruption in fluid flow within a pipeline causes instrumentation tosense a high or low flow volume of pressure condition, a computer or anoperator activates a series of valves in said HCV to block or encouragefluid flow through a valving assembly and/or the pipeline.
 34. The FTDof claim 32, wherein an input tube is connected on an upside section offluid flowing within said pipeline and is also connected to said valvingassembly through an upper input solenoid valve and a lower inputsolenoid valve such that said fluid flowing in said pipeline provides adisplacement volume for said valving assembly and such that when saidupper input solenoid valve and/or lower input solenoid valve isactivated and caused to open, fluid flows into said valving assemblycreating a pressure in said valving assembly that is higher than anominal fluid flow pressure, causing fluid flow through an FTD linkchannel that is connected to the FTD actuator valve.
 35. The FTD ofclaim 32, wherein said FTD actuator valve is then urged into a FTDactuator seat, restricting or eliminating fluid flow in said pipeline inthat said upper output solenoid valve and/or said lower output solenoidvalve remain closed forcing fluid to remain in said valving assembly.36. The FTD of claim 32, wherein closure of said upper input solenoidvalve, lower input solenoid valve, upper output solenoid valve and loweroutput solenoid valve keeps pressure in a system constant wherein saidFTD remains in said FTD actuator seat, blocking fluid flow within saidpipeline.
 37. The FTD of claim 32, wherein said upper output solenoidvalve and/or said lower output solenoid valve is activated by openingeither valve so that fluid flows through said valving assembly and thenflows to an output tube thereby releasing hydraulic pressure within saidvalving assembly, FTD link channel, and FTD actuator valve, thusallowing said FTD actuator valve to open and permit flow of fluid withinsaid pipeline.
 38. The FTD of claim 32, wherein said FTD is placedlinearly within said pipeline as an HCV for controlling the flow offluids within said pipeline such that fluid flow causes said FTD togenerate a signal that provides a signature data stream up hole to acomputer, wherein said signature data stream varies so that saidcomputer activates opening and closing a series of solenoid valvesthereby signaling said FTD to stop or resume allowing flow of fluid insaid pipeline.
 39. The FTD of claim 32, wherein said FTD designregarding the fluid/gas/water fluid properties within a lateral passagemeasures a magnitude of pulses caused by said FTD at distances remotefrom any downhole bore location.
 40. The FTD of claim 39, whereinsensors may be placed at different locations in various lateral passagesand used to indicate any magnitude, travel distance, and velocity of apulse generated by said FTD, during or in the absence of, fluid flow, asrequired during operation.